Best Methodes and Processing of Coconut Oil

Benefits of Coconut Oil for Health

Coconut oil is an oil obtained from copra (coconut dried fruit flesh) or from the juice of coconut milk. Oil content in the old coconut meat is estimated to reach 30% -35%, while oil content in copra reached 63-72%. Coconut oil as other vegetable oils, contains triglyceride compounds. Composed of various fatty acids and 90% of them are saturated fatty acids. For Coconut oil that has not been purified as well, it contains small amounts of non-fat components such as phosphatides, gums, Sterols (0.06-0.08%), tocopherol (0.003%), free fatty acids (<5%) and a Little protein and carotene. Sterols serve as stabilizers in oil and tocopherol is an antioxidants. 

Coconut Oil (Credit: Phu Thinh Co via Wikimedia Commons)

Coconut oil is rich in medium chain fatty acids (C8 - C14), especially lauric acid and meristat acid.The existence of this medium chain fatty acid (medium chain fat) is relatively high, making the  coconut oil has several properties that can fight some harmful compounds in the human body. Not only can fight harmful compound, Coconut oil can provide so many benefits for our healthy. 

Here is some benefits of coconut oil:

• Curbs Appetite
• Builds Muscle
• Can Help Fight Infections
• Helps Lose Abdominal Fat
• Lowers Risk of Heart Disease
• Increases Metabolism
• Protects Hair Against Damage
• Anti-dandruff
• Moisturizes Skin
• Acts as Sunscreen
• Protects Your Kidney and Liver
• Treats Kidney and Bladder Stones
• Prevents Gum Disease and Tooth Decay
• Helps Candida/Yeast Infections
• Reduces Inflammation and Arthritis
• Cancer Prevention and Treatment
• Supports Thyroid Functioning
• Eliminates Free Radicals Damage
• Helps Improve Type 1 Diabetes
• Reduce Seizures
• Improves Digestion
• Reduce Symptoms of Gall Bladder Disease and Pancreatitis
• Prevents Osteoporosis
• Hormone Balance
• Stress Relief
• Anti-Aging Benefits

Coconut Oil Processing Methode

There are so many coconut oil products offered in the market, but as a consumers, we should be smart to choose. To get the best quality coconut oil with maximum benefits, what we must understand is what is the oil content and how the process is done by the producers of coconut oil. As an illustration for you, here we will discuss common methods used to extract coconut oil. In general, the process of making coconut oil can be done with In two ways:

A. Wet Process

Coconut oil is extracted from fresh coconut meat, known as Wet process. To produce oil in the wet process can done in several ways, namely:

• Wet Traditional Ways
• Fermentation
• Centrifugation
• Frying

B. Coconut oil is extracted from dried coconut meat (Copra) or known dry process. To produce oil from The dry process can be done in several ways, namely:

• Mechanical extraction (how to press)
• Extraction using solvent

Wet Coconut Oil Processing

Wet Coconut Oil Processing can be done through making Coconut milk in advance or can also be pressed from coconut meat after Friying processes. Coconut milk is a liquid extracted from grated coconut using water. When the coconut milk is lefted for a while, automatically the separation of oil-rich parts with oil-poor parts oil will slowly occur. The oil-rich part is called cream, and the poorest part with oil is called the skim. Compared to the skim, cream are Lighter. Therefore the cream is at the top, and skim on

low part.

1). Wet Traditional Methode

This traditional wet way is very simple to do, you can do it by Using the common equipment in the family kitchen. In this methode, coconut milk was extracted  from the grated coconut. Then the coconut milk heated to vaporize the water and agglomerate parts instead of oil Called “blondo”. The blondo is separated from the oil. Lastly, blondo are squeezed to remove the remaining oil.
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2). Fermentation Methode

The wet fermentation way is somewhat different from the traditional wet way. In Wet fermentation, the coconut milk left until skim and cream separated. Furthermore the cream is fermented to stimulate the agglomeration of non oil coconut milk part (especially protein) from oil during heating time. Some  microbes will developed during fermentation processes, especially microbial that produce acid. The resulting acid causes the coconut milk protein undergo the clumping process and easily separated during heating stages.

3). Lava Process

The wet lava process is somewhat similar to the wet fermentation methode. On This way, coconut milk is given a centrifugation treatment (3000-3500 rpm) in order to split the skim from cream. So there is separation of oil-rich fraction (Cream) from a poor fraction of oil (skim). Furthermore the cream is pickled and than acidified by adding acetic acid, citrate, or HCI to pH4. After that, the coconut milk is heated and treated like Traditional wet ways or fermented wet ways, then treated Centrifugation once again to separate the oil from the non-oil section.

Dry Coconut Oil Processing

1) Press Methode

The pres methode is done on dry coconut meat (copra). This process Require substantial investment for the purchase of equipment and machinery. A brief description of the way this pres is as follows: Copra is chopped, then crushed into a coarse powder, then the Copra powder is heated  pressed to extract the oil. The Dregs from the press process is still contain the oil, so the dregs was Milled until it smooth, then heated and pressed to get the oil. The collected oil is deposited and filtered. Filtered oil is treated as follows:

• addition of alkali compounds (KOH or NaOH) for neutralization (Remove free fatty acids).
• adding absorbent material of color, usually Using activated charcoal and or bentonite to produce an oil Clear and clear.
• the flow of hot water into the oil to evaporate and Eliminating compounds that cause a bad odor Desired.

2) Solvent Extraction Method

This method uses a liquid solvent (hereinafter referred to as solvent only) which can dissolve oil. The solvent used has low boiling point, Volatile, and does not interact chemically with the coconut oil and The residue is non-toxic. Although this is quite simple, it is rare Used because the cost is relatively expensive. Here is the brief description of this extraction methode:

Copra is chopped, then crushed into powder. Then Copra powder is placed in the extraction chamber, while the solvent is on Evaporation chamber. Then the solvent is heated until it evaporates. Steam The solvent will rise to the condensation chamber. 

Condensate (solvent vapor Melt) will flow to the extraction chamber and dissolve the powdered fat copra. When the extraction chamber is full of solvents, the solvent Containing the oil will flow (fall) by itself towards the previous evaporation chamber.  In the vaporization chamber, the oil-containing solvent will evaporate, While the oil remains in the evaporation chamber. This process Lasts continuously for up to 3 hours. The oil-containing solvent is evaporated. The steam is condensed On the condensate is not returned to the evaporation chamber, but flowed to a solvent shelter. This solvent can be used again for another extraction. This evaporation is done until there is no longer expected Solvent residue on the coconut oil. Furthermore, the oil may be treated with neutralization process, bleaching and Odor removal.
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The Best Coconut Oil Extraction Methode

So, you just read different type of coconut oil extraction methode, did have any clue which one is the best methode?

Coconut oil is claimed to contain fatty acids Trance that give bad effect to our health. This trans fatty acids in Coconut oil caused by imperfection of The coconut oil processing that use high temperatures and chemicals Pale and seducer. Traditional coconut oil Processed with physical treatment (heating) as well has a weakness, this process has a High peroxide number that can trigger Rancidity process. Therefore, the best coconut oil extraction process is by processing it without using precipitating chemicals and high temperature, than the best way is by fermentation.
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Some fermentation treatments can be done with the addition of materials that can limits the Growth undisireble microbs such as salt and Sugar or by the addition of isolates microbes such as yeast or enzymes. Treatment with fermentation is expected to be done without chemicals and can avoid the formation of trans fatty acids. The advantages of the coconut oil extraction with fermentation is that this methode is practical, Energy thrifty, low residue, Low acid number and free of Cholesterol inducer compound.
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